After spending three weeks with the turtles on Quoin Island, it was time to return to civilization, and frankly, it scared the shit out of me.

Travelling in Australia is amazing (I don’t mean the strict rules and speed limits), but if you only spend a short time in the land of OZ (five months in my case), it makes no sense to buy a car (too much struggle and money). There are two excellent options to move around: car relocation and rideshare. Ridesharing works very well on the East Coast: tons of people (Aussies and work & holidayers) have a car, a free seat, and go in the same direction as you. It’s convenient and makes your travels much cheaper than you would think. On top of that, you can meet different nationalities, stories, and music tastes and find travel buddies or even friends along the way. How does it work? Easy: there are over 20+ Facebook groups dedicated to rideshares across the country. Of course, be cautious and listen to your gut, but most of the time, people are friendly and not freaks.

AIRLIE BEACH

From Gladstone, my first destination was Airlie Beach. The journey took about 7 hours (with rideshare), and the arrival was shocking; the town looked like any other holiday destination, but the vibe felt like a smelly European high school locker room. Maybe I was too tired, maybe the weeks of isolation on the private island made me sensitive, or maybe I just landed in one of Queensland’s most popular spots. Everyone comes here because of the Great Barrier Reefand the Whitsundays, more precisely Whitehaven Beach. I mean this:

It’s a must-have once-in-a-lifetime bucket list item, and so was for me. Since I don’t like boats, I only went for a day trip (bargained a good price from a WH guy who organized the trips), with snorkelling at the reefs, laying in the whitest sand, swimming with stingrays, and enjoying all the indescribable views. Absolutely no regrets about playing a tourist; it was a blast of a day.

Despite my impression (and judgment) about Arlie, I also had one of the most insane synchronicity experiences, which stuck with me. I was in the dorm reading Killing Yourself to Live when some German guys arrived with Viva Hits kinda music. At the very moment when I read a line where Skid Row’s Monkey Business is mentioned, one of the guys stopped the song that was playing and, without saying anything, started the Monkey Business. I almost fainted, that No fucking way this just happened. I had to smoke a cigarette and felt Dr. Jung throwing a wink in the corner.

AGNES WATER and 1770

I befriended a girl (with a car) in Airlie, and although I was thinking of going up north, I joined her, and we went south.. just like my hopes and dreams. (Nah, not like that, but I was deffinitely navigating toward an emotional rock bottom.)

We stopped and spent a night in Agnes Water because people said it was a nice spot, and if a place is called Seventeen Seventy, I have to check it out. Basically, nothing’s in the town except for Great Barrier Reef tours and sandflies. And for me, a few awful hours on the phone (with the true blue Aussie). 1770 is the birthplace of Queensland.. and of my agony. I would have traded this experience for a tour to Lady Musgrave, but we couldn’t find one for the next day.

HERVEY BAY

So, after losing focus and direction, I found an opportunity in Hervey Bay, and after having a very good first impression of the town over a cappuccino, I chose to stay for some time. I was at my lowest emotionally, and the sudden confusion of what to do with my life, where I am and where I should go felt like suffocating misery. Of course, the drama was bigger than the situation. But to keep some balance, I met the loveliest people on my OZ trip here. All the laughter, the barbies, the pineapple Sailor Jerry, learning how to roll cigarettes, the dope new music, and the hugs saved my sanity.

I spent 2 weeks in Torquay, which has a laid-back vibe, everything’s easily accessible by bike or foot, and it’s one of the few places where you can enjoy both the beach and the ocean – the water isn’t freezing cold, and insects don’t bother you on the shore.

I love the local flora and fauna (not the bush turkeys, they are gross), the birds and flying foxes are super-cute, and you don’t have to drive in the outback to find a pitch-black spot for stargazing. However, I missed all the attractions people come to Queensland for: I didn’t go to Fraser Island, snorkel more at the Great Barrier Reef, trek in the jungle, or hike the mountains. I ignored everything, and at this point, I heartily hated Australia and detested myself for coming here (drama queen to the fullest). Still, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything because while I was paralyzed by my life decisions, I was entirely grateful to the company, and getting to know these people was a true gift.

SUNSHINE COAST

I only had a brief touchdown at Noosa Heads (the full-on vacation spot) and Sunshine Coast, but if I were to choose a place to live in OZ, it would definitely be Sunny Coast – perfect size, chill people, direct beach access, and great acai bowl.

Sidenote: Although this side of the country is the most inhabited, distances are vast.. and you find yourself more out of reception than in (mobile coverage is awful, only buy Telstra, by the way). Still, something kept me entertained all the way: the aboriginal place names. I’m not a native English speaker, but nothing was pronounced as I thought, and realizing that was sometimes hilarious. My all-time favourite in this regard is Gympie. If you don’t get what I mean, try this way: [dʒɪm] + [phɑɪ] (simple English), but [ɡɪmpi] (in reality).

BRISBANE

From Hervey Bay, I had a short visit to Brisbane to collect my bags and just escape the city; I blamed Brissy for all my problems, and I wasn’t at that emotional intelligence level to regulate my nervous system.

GOLD COAST

I hitched a ride to Gold Coast, found a Couchsurfing spot, and didn’t think further; I just needed a place until leaving the country.

Do you have a picture in your mind of a typical Australian? Like a surfer sunny boy with tattoos, in board shorts, drinking beer, oh, and having kids at 18? Well, that’s Goldie, the capital of this Australian species. Nothing’s wrong with them, they’re just teenagers in old bodies (sooner or later). But with an outsider’s eye, it was interesting to see how the main stereotype changes in every region.

I spent my days between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads. The canals are pretty cool but not for swimming, and the beaches are for surfers only (too windy to enjoy the sand, and the waves are crashing). This city felt more superficial than Brissy – like a playground for teens.

The only intriguing spot I visited nearby was Tamborine Mountain; a national park and rainforest, overloaded with kookaburras (I have a crush on them) and stunning lookouts.

Queensland is the second-largest state, and I have barely seen anything of it. The three months I spent here were the most intense and heart-rending, after which everything was about getting my shit together. The Redland of the island country embraces a lot of beauty, but sometimes, the fog in our minds covers our eyes. So did mine, too.

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